Arya Samaj

Shishya · Posted: Sat Oct 14, 2006 3:20 pm Post subject: Low-Caste Hindus Adopt New Faith

Low-Caste Hindus Adopt New Faith
by
BBC

Thousands of people have been attending mass ceremonies in India at which hundreds of low-caste Hindus converted to Buddhism and Christianity.

The events in the central city of Nagpur are part of a protest against the injustices of India's caste system. By becoming Buddhists, low-caste Hindus (or Dalits) can escape the prejudice and discrimination they normally face.

The ceremonies mark the 50th anniversary of the adoption of Buddhism by the scholar Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar. He was the first prominent Dalit - or Untouchable as they were formerly called - to urge low-caste Indians to embrace Buddhism. As the chief architect of India's constitution, he wrote anti-discrimination provisions and quota systems into the country's law. But four-fifths of India's Dalits live in often isolated rural areas, and traditional prejudice has persisted in spite of official laws.

'Cry for Dignity'

The Dalits arrived by the truckload at a public park in Nagpur for ceremonies, which began with religious leaders giving fiery speeches against the treatment of lower castes. Reuters reported that dozens of riot policemen had turned out at the sprawling park. Albert Lael, of the All India Christian Council, told the BBC that more than 500 people converted to Christianity and more than 1,000 embraced Buddhism. He said they came from the states of Chattisgarh, Karnataka, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Mahasrashtra.

Joseph D'Souza, the president of the Dalit Freedom Network and a Christian convert, described the conversions as a "celebratory occasion". "I think it's important to understand that this is a cry for human dignity, it's a cry for human worth," he told the BBC. He said that Dalits could seek dignity by converting to Christianity, Jainism or Sikhism as well as Buddhism.

Buddhist convert Dhammachari Manidhamma told the BBC that social equality was impossible within Hinduism. "Buddha's teaching was for the humanity, and Buddha believed in equality. And Hindu religion, Hindu teaching is nothing but inequality."

Laws Against Conversion

Similar mass conversions are taking place this month in many other parts of India. Several states governed by the Hindu nationalist party, the BJP, have introduced laws to make such conversions more difficult. The states of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Tamil Nadu have all passed laws restricting conversions. Gujarat has reclassified Buddhism and Jainism as branches of the Hindu religion, in an attempt to prevent conversions away from Hinduism eroding the BJP's bedrock support.

Hinduism teaches that most humans were created from parts of the body of the divinity Purusha. According to which body parts they were created from, humans fall into four basic castes which define their social standing, who they can marry, and what jobs they can do. But Dalits fall outside this system and are traditionally prevented from doing all but the most menial jobs or even drinking from the same water sources as other castes.

(Source)

Shyena · Posted: Sat Oct 14, 2006 4:15 pm Post subject:

This is seriously ridiculous. These people flame hinduism as they like and the media doesn't even notice!

Buddha's teachings are just atheistic vedanta with lots of dyspepsia! Mad

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Krinvanto Vishwam Aryam meditate

Namaste

Shishya · Posted: Sat Oct 14, 2006 5:06 pm Post subject:

My question: Where are the Arya Samaj Punditas and Dharmaprachaarakas in situations like this? Are they reaching out to people? Are they informing the people of their options? Or are they sitting in mandirs, bickering over politics and low revenues? Swamiji did not sit on his laurels faced with such events. He would have been there, preaching to the people, asking them to help him reform Hinduism from the inside instead of giving in to the closed-minded pauranic Brahmanas and abandoning their faith.
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Namaste,

Shishya
ॐ

ॐ सह नावतु । सह तौ भुनक्तु । सह वीर्यं करवावहै । तेजस्वि नावधीतमस्तु मा विद्विषावहै ॥
"Together may we be protected. Together may we be profited. Together may we do a hero's work. May we learn intelligently. May we never hate one another."
-Brihadaranyaka & Taittiriya Upanishads

Shyena · Posted: Sat Oct 14, 2006 5:20 pm Post subject:

Hindus are always more busy fighting amongst themselves than face real situations....
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Krinvanto Vishwam Aryam meditate

Namaste

Shishya · Posted: Sat Oct 14, 2006 5:29 pm Post subject:

Namaste PD,

You said a mouthful there! Laughing

This was the idea behind the 10 Principles: to help Hindus overcome petty sectarian differences so that they could work together towards the common goal of raising Aryavarta out of the muck and prevent things like what was reported above from happening in the first place. Perhaps we're just too idealistic... Sad

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Namaste,

Shishya
ॐ

ॐ सह नावतु । सह तौ भुनक्तु । सह वीर्यं करवावहै । तेजस्वि नावधीतमस्तु मा विद्विषावहै ॥
"Together may we be protected. Together may we be profited. Together may we do a hero's work. May we learn intelligently. May we never hate one another."
-Brihadaranyaka & Taittiriya Upanishads

Shyena · Posted: Sat Oct 14, 2006 5:37 pm Post subject:

Who's we...?
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Krinvanto Vishwam Aryam meditate

Namaste

Shishya · Posted: Sat Oct 14, 2006 9:03 pm Post subject:

lol, I forgot you don't like to be catagorized by anyone. I apologize. I meant those of us who actually think the 10 Principles could serve as a common basis.

Shyena · Posted: Sun Oct 15, 2006 8:08 am Post subject:

Lol, I wasn't trying to be offensive really. I was wondering who you're referring to - 'us' or arya samajists...

Actually I'd say - no. I think that arya samaj is NOT sticking to these fundamental principles and that is why the number of converts are not so many. I'd be extremely grateful to arya samaj if they manage to convert the many low-castes of india...
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Krinvanto Vishwam Aryam meditate

Namaste

Shishya · Posted: Mon Oct 16, 2006 1:24 am Post subject:

Namaste PD,

I agree about the failure to distinguish between the Arya Samaj as a reform organization and the Arya Samaj as a religious institution. That, I feel, is the primary reason why the Arya Samaj has remained small in numbers. It would be wise to widely publicize the 10 Principles and to let the Satyarth Prakash remain the statement of Swamiji's faith that it is - helpful, informative, inspiring, but not binding.
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Namaste,

Shishya
ॐ

ॐ सह नावतु । सह तौ भुनक्तु । सह वीर्यं करवावहै । तेजस्वि नावधीतमस्तु मा विद्विषावहै ॥
"Together may we be protected. Together may we be profited. Together may we do a hero's work. May we learn intelligently. May we never hate one another."
-Brihadaranyaka & Taittiriya Upanishads

Deepan Abisuriya · Junior Member Joined: 13 Sep 2006 Posts: 66

Namaste,

I want to print palmplates and give it to students all over my city- the 10 principles and would also like to keep seminars and take college fests as a advantage and teach these principles.

I would like to know is it required that I should take prior permission from Arya Samaj to teach and propagate the vedic dharma. This happens with the Islam and christianity that there are preachers who are authorised to do this and others only organise with prior permission.

I ask this because I want to spread the vedic dharma in all ways I can reach people.

Please advice.

Namaste
Deepan.

Shishya · Posted: Wed Oct 18, 2006 12:54 pm Post subject:

Namaste Deepan,

First let me say how impressed I am with your motivation to spread Vaidik Dharm. You are embarking on very noble work and I wish you the best in this endeavour. namaste

Second, there are several ways to go about this. Where are you located? There might be a mandir in your area where you could get support and/or information to help you in this work.

Also, it depends somewhat on the type of work you want to do. Anyone is welcome to organize events and spread basic information regarding Vaidik Dharm and the Arya Samaj. When it comes to preaching, however, not all communities share the same opinion. Some welcome anyone willing to help with open arms. Others first want to make sure that anyone representing Arya Samaj is spreading correct information. (Ultimately, however, you are a free soul and the Truth is available to anyone.) So, my suggestion would be to first contact a local mandir and to see from there. If necessary, we can try and help you with this here at the forum.

Once again, I really appreciate your enthusiasm. Very Happy

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Namaste,

Shishya
ॐ

ॐ सह नावतु । सह तौ भुनक्तु । सह वीर्यं करवावहै । तेजस्वि नावधीतमस्तु मा विद्विषावहै ॥
"Together may we be protected. Together may we be profited. Together may we do a hero's work. May we learn intelligently. May we never hate one another."
-Brihadaranyaka & Taittiriya Upanishads

Shyena · Posted: Wed Oct 18, 2006 5:54 pm Post subject:

I'm adopting a more insidious method, that's the only thing that works. Studied at a convent school - I know how the conversion tactics work Wink

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Krinvanto Vishwam Aryam meditate

Namaste

Deepan Abisuriya · Junior Member Joined: 13 Sep 2006 Posts: 66

Namaste ji,

Thank you for the encouragement, already I have started this through emails and chatting.

I am located in Bangalore and regularly I go to Arya samaj there. I will take your advice and poceed.

Namaste,
Deepan.

Amrita Singh · Posted: Thu Oct 19, 2006 12:41 pm Post subject: Deepanji

Namaste Deepanji,

I admire you for your courage in wanting to spread the message of Arya Samaj, the 10 Principles to be exact. Not everyone is willing to do this but you are an exceptional individual. I also join in wishing you enormous success in this venture. All the best!
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Krinvanto Vishvam Aaryam Havan

Namaste

Amrita

Sunita · Arya Ladies Forum Moderator Joined: 24 May 2006 Posts: 567

Deepan Abisuriya · Junior Member Joined: 13 Sep 2006 Posts: 66

Namaste to all,

Thanks a lot for all your encouragement and wishes.

With Regards,
Deepan.

Devo · Posted: Thu Oct 19, 2006 11:44 pm Post subject:

Namaste Bhai Deepan,

You are an inspiration to all of us here, and we do wish you the very best in your mission, and hope you will continue to excel in whatever you do.

Also, if you can get ur pamplet online for us to take advantage of the knowledge you will be presently, we would appreciate that. Wink

Good luck, bro.

God bless,
Dev.

Prabhat · Posted: Tue Feb 13, 2007 1:12 am Post subject:

Namaste,
i would like to know how Deepan and the Arya Samaj did, o helping these people.
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Namaste,
Prabhat

Shavaun · Posted: Wed Feb 14, 2007 7:18 am Post subject:

What exactly is a "Low Caste Hindu"?

Namaste,

Shavaun

Prabhat · Posted: Wed Feb 14, 2007 10:17 am Post subject:

SHIVAJI · Newbie Joined: 04 Oct 2007 Posts: 4

I fail to understand what is the problem with the Hindu upper castes.

When Hinduism itself teaches that God is there within each and every human being , how on earth can one look down upon ones fellow human being and denounce him as worthless and impure, thus undermining his dignity and self-esteem .

Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, RAmananda, Dadu, Sree Narayana Guru, RAmakrishna, Swami Vivekananda , Swami Dayananda Saraswati all worked for the elevation of the lower castes.

Even then some hindus still look down upon the lower castes, ,mainly due to prejudice , ignorance of hinduism and a false sense of superiority.

Casteism, untouchability, are the main problems facing Hindu society at the moment, and they have no sanction whatsoever in the vedas.

It is high time these discriminations are eradicated, and confined to the dustbin of history permanently.

The upper caste hindus, should now devote their time and energy to the elevation and empowerment of the lower castes through education and morale building, and make them strong and independent enough to stand on their own feet, along with cultural literacy and spirituality of Hinduism.

Every Hindu should now work with single-mindedness to remove this great blot on hinduism, created by power-hungry fraudulent brahmins, namely casteism and untouchability and destroy it permanently.

If Hinduism or the Vaidik Dharma has to evolve, this has to happen soon enough.

One has to approach this problem in the same "do or die " spirit which charecterised our freedom fighters .
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What our country wants today are muscles of iron and nerves of steel, gigantic wills which nothing can resist, which can penetrate into the mysteries and secrets of the universe, and will accomplish their purpose in any fashion, even if it means going to the bottom of the ocean and meeting death face to face.

----- SWAMI VIVEKANANDA